Nigerian troops ‘kill 5 kidnappers’

Nigerian troops on Sunday killed five suspected kidnappers at their hideout in Bauchi State, the Army said.

The shootout happened almost at the same time soldiers in in southern part of Borno State arrested a Boko Haram suspect alongside three women believed to be wives of Boko Haram members.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Sani Usman, said in a statement on Sunday that at about 1.30p.m., “troops of 33 Brigade Nigerian Army deployed at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Ningi, on routine patrol, came across suspected kidnappers at Dutsen Makurd, Ningi Local Government Area”.

He said the suspected kidnappers opened fire on the troops, leading to an exchange of fire and the killing of five of the kidnappers.

Mr. Usman said the troops recovered three guns and other weapons.

The statement also said that in faraway Kwaya-Kusar local government areas of Borno, a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Adamu Nuhu, was arrested.

He was nabbed following a tip-off, Mr. Usman said.

“Similarly, at about 5.43pm yesterday 3 women suspected to be spouses of wanted Boko Haram terrorists and logistics suppliers were arrested at Miringa market by vigilante members in the town”, said Mr. Usman.

The women were later handed over to soldiers.